BIRCHLEIGH residents expressed they felt misled by Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality’s appointed consultants, Nemai, when it posted a EIA (environmental impact assessment) notices around Birchleigh dated April 17.
This comes after a meeting organised by Entabeni Residents Association in Birchleigh North. The meeting was attended by ANC PR councillor in ward 91, Makhosazane Dhladhla-Mavundla, MMC for Roads and Transport, Thumbu Mahlangu, local government director of the Department of Human Settlement, Mr Molefe, as well as representatives from GIBB Engineering and Architecture, who was hired by the metro, and Nemai Consultants, who were hired by GIBB Engineering to conduct the environmental impact assessments.
The housing development in question refers to the low cost houses planned by the municipality which will be built on a 172-ha open field and vlei area that stretches from Birchleigh to Birchleigh North over the P91 on the Esselenpark side of the suburbs.
According to Mike Nkabinde of Entabeni Residents Association it was established during the meeting, which took place on July 8, that the municipality and its appointed consultants, Nemai, had misled the Birchleigh and Birchleigh North communities.
“The communities affected by the planned housing development were misled with regards to the information provided in the EIA notices placed on lamp posts in Birchleigh and Birchleigh North, which stated that the planned development was for low cost housing,” Nkabinde said.
According to a statement released by Entabeni Residents Association it was established during the meeting that the development plans were for mixed housing and not low cost housing.
Based on the feedback from the meeting, the association have now requested for various studies to be conducted on the open land.
“Through our focused groups, we have requested that the following studies should be conducted: geotech, Area Integrated Development Plan (in relation to expansion plans for amenities and social facilities) as well as a wetland delineation study.
“We have also requested that the EIA must address the interface between the proposed development and existing developments.”
Also, as this development affects not only the residents of ward 91 but also those of Birchleigh proper in ward 15, both parties have made the decision to amalgamate and “create healthy synergies in dealing with all future challenges ahead of this development”.
Residents who want to be kept in the loop about the process of the EIA can register with Nemai to be on their data base for information regarding the assessments.
For more information, contact Rivani Maharaj on 031-266-3884 or email rivanim@nemai.co.za
